Great Pets Guinea pigs are great pets for kids. Before we got our sweet little guys Butterscotch and Twix, I had no idea how much personality guinea pigs really possess. They give kisses and snuggle, and even recognize us. They love to interact with us and be held. They respond happily with squeaks when held. Our guinea pigs are very social because we held them a lot from a very young age so they are very tame. My boys have constantly taken them out of their cages to ... Continue Reading...
Cajun Julie’s Hybrid Vegetarian/Meat Jambalaya
My family is a hybrid family of vegetarians and meat-eaters so I have come up with meals that please both diets over the years. This jambalaya is one recipe that makes two dishes to satisfy two diets. This tasty dish called Cajun Julie's Hybrid Vegetarian/Meat Jambalaya can be made as half vegetarian/half meat or all vegetarian or all meat. I make it half and half. It is a versatile dish that can feed a family composed of vegetarians and meat eaters. It's one of my favorite recipes ... Continue Reading...
My Almost Fail as a Multi-tasking Mom
My article on Sammiches and Psych Meds about my backyard obstacle course race to save my kids' runaway guinea pig Butterscotch. Sometimes as a busy mom, I take on too much at once and I almost failed in my multi-tasking. Click below to read it. It will give you a chuckle! http://www.sammichespsychmeds.com/my-almost-fail-as-a-multi-tasking-mom/ Save ... Continue Reading...
I’m Living the Boys’ Life Disgusting Stories by Mom
In my house of dysfunctional bathroom use including poorly placed farts I get little boys’ hilarious burps, foam darts whizzing past my computer screen to the tune of heckling laughter, and all sorts of other things I dare not mention, but just wait and I will. I barely flinch. It’s no doubt I’m living the boys’ life with four males in the house: my husband and three sons aged 12 and under. I like to think of us as 4 Alans and an Ann as these are our middle names. Sorry boys, I ... Continue Reading...
My Worst Fear as a Mother
My kids always ask me what I’m scared of the most and I’m never really sure how to answer them because I don’t want to scare them by my real fear. I usually say I’m scared of something bad happening to them. I can’t tell them the real truth that what I’m really scared of is dying and leaving them to navigate growing up without me. It’s not that I don’t think my husband would do a good job, I know he would, but I saw how hard it was for my dad to be a widowed, grieving single parent and I know ... Continue Reading...
100 Things to do with Kids this Summer in the Twin Cities and at home
100 things to do this with kids this summer in and near the Twin Cities & at home: Happy Summer! I've made a list of fun family things to do with kids in the summer. Some activites in this list you will need pay for to do but some are free, because we all need some free options! I hope you find my list useful. Kids need some boredom buster ideas at times in the summer and sometimes the whole family is looking for something fun to do together for family time. This list includes activities ... Continue Reading...
How to Plan a Cheap, Fun, Mom’s Night Away Camping without a Tent
Mom’s need to get away even if for just one night. We need to relax and have some fun connecting with friends where we aren't constantly entertaining and watching over kids. One affordable way to do it is with camping, but not using a tent, but with renting a cabin at a local campground. This gives the atmosphere of camping but without the work of pitching a tent so there is less setup time, less clean up required, and more time for fun and actual sitting (a rare thing for mom’s!). Sounds ... Continue Reading...
Quick Hybrid Vegetarian/Meat Nachos Appetizer
When I'm craving nachos (which happens to me frequently) and I want to avoid tortilla chips to reduce carbs, I make a quick healthy version of nachos using Wasa crispbread. This light snack or appetizer satisfies my desire for a plate of nachos and it adds fiber to the diet. This works as a fast light lunch also. Break two or three pieces of multigrain Wasa crispbreads in half. Arrange pieces slightly overlapping on a microwaveable plate. Sprinkle with 1/4 cups medium salsa and 1/4 cup ... Continue Reading...
Kid Brains versus the Parent Brains
Parents: Kids' Brains are Wired Differently than Ours Kid brains versus parent brains show vast differences. Anyone who has spent time around kids can recognize this difference. Kids have their own agendas not always rooted in reality, but their viewpoint is beautiful in many ways.That viewpoint is what helps them live in the moment more than we do as adults. Adults are often forced into living in reality, but we can learn a lot from kids to live in the moment more. But with busy schedules, ... Continue Reading...
Crafts are for Boys too
This was originally published on Her View From Home . “Watch out Mom!” I hear my son say as a cut up foam bullet whizzes into the kitchen and lands near my cutting board. It’s my middle son and he’s created another invention. He smiles and shows me his new shooter. Crafts are for boys too. Yes, Gun Crafts Yes, my boys make gun crafts as much as I tried to keep guns out of the picture, the boys have their own ideas about that. The inventiveness of it is what allows me to accept it as they ... Continue Reading...
